Game apparatus



Dec. 13, 1932 M. v COPLEN ET AL 1,890,770

GAME APPARATUS Filed Sept. 9, 1929 CLARE/v55 \A/L CDPLE/Y \A/lLL /AM 5. MAL/0R5 Inventor By mLwfM.

A Home y Patented Dec. 13, 1932 Q untrue STATES PATENT OFFICE MILLICENT V. COPLEN AND CLARENCE W. COPLEN, OF NINE MILE FALLS, AND F WILLIAM B MAJ'ORS, SI OKANE, WASHINGTON GAMEVAPPARATUS Application filed SeptemberB, 1929. Serial No. 391,134. i

Our present invention relates to an improved game apparatus of the type utilizing a game board, aerial projectiles or balls, and lever mechanisms formechanically tossing the projectiles into the air for deposit in pockets or goals provided therefor.

The game involvesa measure of chance, but is susceptible of developed skill, in the manipulation ofthe mechanical tossers, by the players of the game, one or more of whom may participate in a game. tion is provided and the object of the game is to deposit the ball at successive stations'until the goal is reached, hazards or barriers being 155 utilized in relation to the stations for rendering more difiicult, but not impossible, the plays of the game.

Our invention consists in certain novel combinations and arrangements of parts as will hereinafter be more fully set forth and claimed. In the accompanying drawing we have illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of our invention wherein the parts are'combined and arranged according to the best mode we have thus far devised for the practical application of the principles of our invention. 7

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a game apparatus involving our invention. Figure 2 is a sectional detail view atline 2-2 of Figure 8. Fi ure 3 is a lan view of the ame apparatus partly broken away for disclosure ofoperating parts. Figure 4 is a sectional detail view at line 44 of Figure 3. Figure 5 is a sectional view-at line 55 of Figure 3.

In carrylng out our invention we employ a box like structure 1 of approximate rectangular shape and fashioned of cardboard, wood, metal or other suitable material, and of proper size. An elevated board 2 is fixed in the upper part of the box and this board declines from the front to the rear of the box so that the balls or projectiles B will have a tendency to roll always toward the rear end of the inclined board. At the sides and front of the box are provided edge flanges 3, which together with the backboard 4, at the rear of the box keep the balls from rolling off the board or out of bounds.

A semi-circular shaped strip 5 is secured the game board.

A starting sta on the upper face of the board, with its ends terminating adjacent the backboard and its front portion against the front fiangeof the box, and this strip forms the boundary for the: playing field, as well as a guide wall that. tends to return the balls toward the back of Within this semi-circular boundary strip are arranged spaced hazards as spaced, angular guide strips 6 and '7, a central fcu'rved strip 8 i and Y the intermediate,

spaced, curved strips 9 and 10, all of which are arranged andrelated so as to form a bar-- rier or hazard for rendering difiicult the progress, of a ball toward the first pocket 11 at the approximate center of the playing field within the boundary strip. e A second station, alined with the first sta- I tion or pocket 11 along the longitudinal central line of the board, is provided by the use of a cup 12 having a conical shape and formed with a botton hole or pocket 13 through the board and cup. A-pair of angularly'di'sposed, return,guide strips 14, 14 are projected from the cup toward the starting stations at the back wall or board 4, t0 guide the balls,: rolling on the board, toward these stations 15, 16,17 and 18, two of which are located at each side of the transverse center of the board." Eachof these starting stations comprises ahole, as 15, in, the vertical backwa'll, iand a recess or seat 19 or depression-in the upper ffaceof the game boardadjacent the hole in the backboard, The seat is' adapted torecei've thezball B, and the hole in 1 the backboard, 1:; W111 be noted, is of less di- .85 ameter than i the diameter of the ball, hence a portion of the ball projects through the hole in the backboard when the ball is properly seated in its recess or seat 19. In front of the backboard an elevated shelf 20 is secured and this'shelf is provided with a plurality of goal-holes or seats 21 that form 1 the goals to be reached by the ball B, asthe latter is mechanically, tossed from the second station or cup 12. p Thus it will be apparent thatithe ball is to be mechanically tossed from its starting station, 15, .16, 17, or 18,'to the first station 11, thence tossed to thesecond station 12, and

from the latter station, tossed to the goal on the shelf.

Four key-levers, as 22 are provided for making the first mechanical toss of the ball, two of these levers being located at opposite sides of the gameboard and located beneath the board where they are pivoted at 23. Near the front of the gameboard are provided finger-slots 24 into which the finger keys or striking keys 25 of the levers, project. These striking keys form the shorter arms of the levers 22 and they are depressed by pressure of the finger for lifting the long arm of the lever. Above the free end of the lever 22 an angular, mechaniealtosser 26 is pivoted to theunderside of the board 2 at 27. One of these angular tossers is pivoted or hinged beneath each of the starting stations 15, 16,

17, 18, in such position that the free end of the tosser is adapted to swing up and around and strike the ball B (see Fig. 2) tossing it toward the front of the game board. This tossing action takes place when the free end of the starting lever 22 is elevated to come in contact with the apex of the angular tosser, andthe lever then swings the tosser, as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 2.

After the starting-toss the ball falls on the board 2 and may roll to the pocket 11 from whence it is to be mechanically tossed by a tossing lever 28, pivoted at 29 under the game board and provided with a handle or short arm 28 projecting through a slot 30 in the front wall of the box. The seat or hole 11 is of proper diameter to permit the ball B to project slightly therethrough so that the hall may be tapped from below by a striking head 31 on the upper face of the free end of the tossing lever.

If perchance the ball is tossed from the first station and lands in the second station or cup 12 it settles in the seat or hole 13 in the cup and board, and projects slightly therethrough. Another tossing lever 32 is now used, this lever being pivoted at 33 with its short arm or handle 32 projecting through a slot 30 in thefront wall of the box. The striking head 31 of this lever 32 is adapted to strike the ball and toss it to the goal-shelf 20, where the ball may roll into any one of the seats 21.

Different scoring points may be given to the goal-seats if desired, and the number of these seats, as well as the number of intermediate stations and number of starting stations, may be varied if desired. A set of rules accompany the game apparatus for use in playing the game, and the apparatus as described'providesa source of innocent merriment, an interesting pastime, and a developer for the skilful manipulation of the fingers of young and old.

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim as new and desire'to secure by Letters Patent is In a game apparatus the combination with an inclined board and a laterally extending upright boundary strip at the front of the board, and a back board, said inclined board having a plurality of successively arranged seats spaced on a central line perpendicular to the strip and adapted to receive a ball, mechanical tossers located beneath the board in operative position with relation to the seats for tossing a ball from a seat, a back-seat at each side of: the center line and formed in part by openings in said back board adapted to receive a ball, a mechanical. tosser in operative relation to each back seat for tossing a ball from the seat, and barrier strips at each side of the center line of the board and coacting with the boundary strip toform guide ways for directing tree balls to said back seats.

In testimony whereof we afiix our signatures.

WILLIAM B. MAJORS. CLARENCE YV. COPLEN. MILLICENT V. COPLEN. 

